Coquitlam area schools continue to be flagged for COVID-19 with secondary schools among the hardest hit.
Fraser Health reports as many as 25 schools were hit by COVID-19 exposures in the last 14 days, some with multiple dates including Centennial secondary in Coquitlam (19 ,20, 21, 22), Pinetree secondary in Coquitlam, (April 19, 20, 21), Riverside secondary (April 19, 20) and Heritage Woods secondary (April 19, 20).
The cases of people on school grounds who tested positive for COVID-19 come as a mass vaccination program rolls out for school-based teachers and support staff who work for Tri-City schools.
Thursday, Fraser Health CEO Victoria Lee said the teachers were given the go-ahead to get a vaccine after a “risk analysis” conducted by health officials, and those who didn’t get their jabs April 16-19 can still register for them.
Meanwhile, vaccinations continue to be prioritized for residents aged 40 and older in Port Coquitlam, deemed a "high-risk neighbourhood."
Tri-City school-based educators and Port Coquitlam residents are encouraged to register to get vaccinated at getvaccinatedbc.ca.
Although case counts are declining, Port Coquitlam schools continue to be among the hardest hit by COVID-19 exposure with 13 schools listed on Fraser Health’s school exposure website, followed by Coquitlam (9) Port Moody (2), and Anmore (1).
One of the hardest hit was Citadel middle, where Fraser Health reports that someone who tested positive for COVID-19 was on school grounds on April 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 as well as the previous week on April 16.
An entire class was also asked to isolate for 14 days.
See below for the list current and a map current to April 29.
WHAT IS AN EXPOSURE?
A school “exposure” indicates a single person with a lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection attended school during their infectious period.
A school “cluster,” on the other hand, indicates possible school-based transmission with two or more lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 attending school while infectious.
Finally, an “outbreak” at a school means “multiple individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection” and that “transmission is likely widespread.”
So far there hasn’t been an outbreak in School District 43 schools, a point made at Tuesday’s board of education meeting.
If an outbreak occurred, there would be a partial or full school closure, superintendent Patricia Gartland told trustees.
Port Coquitlam
• Riverside secondary: April 16, 19 and 20
• Terry Fox secondary: April 16
• Kwayhquitlum middle: April 19
• Maple Creek middle: April 19, 20 and 21
• Citadel middle: April 16, 19, 20, 21 and 22
• Kilmer elementary: April 16
• Bramblewood elementary: April 19 and 20
• Castle Park elementary: April 16 19 and 20
• Central community elementary: April 16
• Hazel Trembath elementary: April 16, 19 and 20
• James Park elementary: April 16
• École des Pionniers-de-Maillardville (francophone): April 16 and 19
• Pitt River middle school: April 20, 21, 22
Coquitlam
• Centennial secondary: April 16. 19, 20, 21, 22
• Pinetree secondary: April 19, 20, 21
• Maillard middle: April 16
• Glen elementary: April 16, 19, 20, 21,22
• Nestor elementary: April 16
• Dr. Charles Best secondary: April 20, 21
• Nestor elementary: April 16
• Gleneagle secondary: April 21
• Scott Creek middle: April 21
Port Moody
• Heritage Woods secondary: April 19, 20 and 21
• Aspenwood elementary: April 22
Anmore
• Eagle Mountain middle: April 22
– Tri-City News map compiled by Stafan Labbé
